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Bird’s Eye View For Miss World

South Africa’s Miss World Rolene Strauss took a striking selfie while up the mast of a Volvo Ocean Race boat this week.

The 22-year-old from Volkrust, South Africa didn’t need to be asked twice when race leaders, Dongfeng Race Team challenged her to do the climb in Sanya, China.

Strauss, who won her title in London in December, was hoisted up the mast in just a couple of minutes. After taking a leisurely view of the harbour, she coolly lowered herself down.

“The scenery is so beautiful and it was lovely being out there on the ocean,” says Strauss. “I just fell in love with Sanya and with everything. It felt like I was on top of the world.”

“I drew a big eye [on the mast], looking down on the boat and then wrote one world, one strength,” she said. “If the crew works together as one they will have more strength and they will prosper in the race.”

(Photo by Sam Greenfield)

Dongfeng Race Team and the rest of the fleet, on a nine-month 38,739-nautical mile offshore marathon race around the world, leave China on Feb 8 for Auckland on the fourth leg of nine. The race is scheduled to finish in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 27.